A number of toys from shopping platform Temu have failed button battery safety standards, a recent investigation by consumer group CHOICE has found.
CHOICE anonymously purchased and tested 15 random coin and button battery-operated products from Temu in May 2024, with every product tested failing at least one requirement of mandatory Australian button battery regulations.
"Our results are a worrying reminder of the potential for these kinds of products to slip through the net, putting children in Australia at risk of serious injury or even death," says CHOICE CEO, Ashley de Silva.
"Temu has now removed all the offending products from their website, but 12 of the items were still available for sale when we alerted Temu to the issues. It shouldn't take a CHOICE investigation to ensure unsafe products are removed from their website," says de Silva.
"The products which failed safety testing included children's watches, spinning tops, mini electronic games, LED tea lights, and even light-up tutus. Most of them had unsafe, insecure battery compartments, and all of them failed at least one requirement of mandatory button battery safety stands," says de Silva.
This $12.79 LED tutu skirt was one of the worst products tested, with a lithium batteries compartment that was not child-proof and very easy to open with just a fingernail, making it especially unsafe.
The full list of Temu products which failed safety testing are:
- Square watch
- Spinning top with launcher
- Light up projectile with fins
- Space figurine building blocks
- Writing tablet (lithium battery)
- Finger spinning top
- Slap-on animal watch
- Tutu skirt (lithium battery)
- Camera projector
- Projector watch
- LED tea light (lithium battery)
- Coin cell charger (lithium battery)
- Musical keyboard
- Cartoon projector
- Electronic pet game
"We're disappointed to see a big company like Temu flouting mandatory button battery safety standards. We urge Temu to join other online marketplaces like eBay and Amazon and sign up to the voluntary Product Safety pledge, which provides additional protections to consumers," says de Silva.
"CHOICE continues to call on the government to introduce a general safety provision, which would make it illegal for businesses to sell unsafe products in the first place," says de Silva.
Images and further details of 15 products available here: https://sites.google.com/choice.com.au/temusafetyfails/
Safety advice on button batteries:
The ACCC's advice around button batteries includes:
- If you suspect a child has swallowed or inserted a button battery contact the 24/7 Poison Information Centre on 13 11 26, and Triple Zero (000) immediately if your child is having any difficulty breathing.
- Check for a secure compartment and warning labels, even when shopping with a trusted seller. If you need to purchase a product with a button battery online, make sure to check the compartment is secure when it is delivered.
- Regularly check that products and toys are not damaged or broken, or if the button battery compartment does not close securely. Stop using the product and keep it away from children.
- If you need to dispose of button batteries, put sticky tape around both sides, safely put them in a child resistant container and recycle them at your nearest drop off point.
- Consumers can report an unsafe product to the ACCC via the ACCC Product Safety website.
Stock images: Getty, unless otherwise stated.
